Letter #11, Post #7

Tuesday 19 June 2012
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "My father's affection for Miss Cuthbert is as lively as ever, and he begs that you will not neglect to send him intelligence of her or her brother, whenever you have any to send." - Jane Austen, Saturday 17-Sunday 18 November 1798

Miss Cuthbert, her brother and their sister Maria lived at Eggerton House and looked after Elizabeth Knight, the sister of Mr. Thomas Knight. Elizabeth Knight was feeble-minded and lived separately from the rest of the Knight family at Eggerton House. Mr. Thomas Knight was the rich relative that adopted Edward Austen, eventually Knight.

The following is a quote from The Letters of Jane Austen, by Jane Austen and Lord Edward Brabourne:

"In this same twenty-fourth letter occurs the sentence, 'You and George walking to Eggerton!' Eggerton, or more properly Eggarton, was an old manor-house near Godmersham, on the other side of the river. It formerly belonged to-that is to say, so long ago as the reign of Queen Elizabeth-to the Scots of Scot's Hall, from whose possession it passed through several hands until it came into those of the Gott family, one of whom left it to the co-heiressess of William Western Hugessen of Provender; and when these two ladies married respectively Sir Edward Knatchbull (my grandfather) and Sir Joseph Banks, this property was sold to Jane, a sister of Mr. Thomas Knight. Another of his sisters, Miss Elizabeth Knight, was of weak intellect, and after the two sisters had first resided at Bilting, she was moved to Eggarton, a larger and more convenient house, and two lady attendants, Miss Cuthbert and her sister Maria, were engaged to look after her, which they did for many years. It was to these ladies that the visits from Godmersham were paid. Eggarton House stood on the east side of Godmersham, in the parish of Crundale, near a wood, which went by the name of Purr Wood, and was eventually pulled down by my grandfather, Mr. Knight, who did not care to let it, being so near Godmersham."

The Cuthbert's must have been very amiable; but, I don't know why, I am picturing the lady in the attic in Jane Eyre, Mr. Rochester's wife, Bertha Mason. I probably should not admit that and I am sure I am being way, way to hard on Elizabeth Knight. Sorry, feeling guilty now.

 

This is the only scene from this version of Jane Eyre (1934) that I have seen, but I have to say it is so bad I had to share it just for the laugh. I am quite sure this scene did not happen in the book and there are so many other things wrong... well, take a look.

I have not seen the newest version of Jane Eyre either, but I want to.

This link is to an intriguing post about the comparisons in Jane Austen's books and things Charlotte Bronte used in Jane Eyre. This one is worth your time. I found it very interesting.

http://sharpelvessociety.blogspot.com/2011/04/jane-eyreairheireyerausten.html

I hope you enjoy your day today!
Terrie